Kitchen Probs

[PeteyM]

Petey's not allowed in the kitchen. But just about everyday he finds his way in there. We don't have the type of kitchen with a door or one that you can put a gate in between. What should I do?

[BoxerWB]

Get creative with your blocking or your training - our rules don't always make immediate sense to dogs, so unless you train it and enforce it consistently, it'll be hard for them to learn.  Not entering a room is definitely a hard one, but it can be done if you are consistent.

If you need to go in the kitchen and can't watch him, you may want to put him in the crate - keeps him from breaking your rules and also prevents him from being left unattended out of sight, where he could get into all sorts of trouble.

[boxer pal]

I suggest teaching him the command, 'rug'.  I used that for Rudy when I wanted him to stay in a particular spot.  We had an old rug we carried with us everywhere.  I taught Rudy to go to it where ever it was by rewarding him for going to his 'rug'.  It was very handy when we were working the farmer's market one summer.  You could put Petey's 'rug' at the entrance or door way or whereever you want him to stop and tell him 'rug' and he would know to go there, at least when you are in the kitchen and he want's to be there with you.  When you aren't at home, I'd say crate him.

[BoxerWB]

Doh, I don't know why I didn't think of that solution! Our dogs are allowed in the kitchen, but we do have a "Go RUG" command and they have laying down on the rug in order to get any goodies while we're cooking or after we eat.

I will say that some dogs take to the concept easier than others - Xena will try laying down *near* the rug, or sometimes she *stands* on the rug.  Dash runs right over and plops down - it clicked easily with him.

[BoxerPerson]

I use OUT and that works

[Theresa]

Beas has a go to bed command to lay down in the livingroom where we can see him from the kitchen

[Patti]

Also I think you need to remember Petey is only 11 weeks old. He is bound to slip up on the rules now & then. And then test his boundries when he gets a little older

[blynn03]

Also I think you need to remember Petey is only 11 weeks old. He is bound to slip up on the rules now & then. And then test his boundries when he gets a little older

Definitely.  And a rule like staying out of the kitchen is a harder one to learn than just learning a command like "sit."  He is probably not 100% clear of your rules yet.